Pune, Jan 2 (IANS) A hospital here founded by the doctor-son of a daily labourer and which celebrates the birth of every girl child will now set up a one-of-a-kind burns centre that will treat all women victims of acid attacks or burns free of charge.
"Women who are targets of acid attacks or dowry and torture burns shall be given completely free treatment at this centre. However, if there are male victims, they will be charged as usual," Ganesh Rakh, doctor and founder-owner of Medicare Hospital of Hadapsar, a suburb of Pune, told IANS.
The idea came to Rakh a couple of months ago when a 22-year-old newly-married woman became a victim of dowry harassment. She was allegedly set ablaze by her in-laws and was brought to his hospital.
"We don't have the specialised treatment for such cases and the sole private hospital in Pune quoted Rs.30,000 per day for treatment for an indefinite period," Rakh said.
When he informed the woman's family, they said if they had that kind of money, they would have agreed to the dowry demands and their daughter would have escaped her current fate.
Rakh was moved by the woman's plight and decided to do something about it.
After consultations with colleagues and experts, he decided to set up a burns centre that offers free treatment to women victims from any part of the country.
Rakh's "Save the Girl Child" campaign, launched Jan 3, 2012, has already earned him a huge fan following as it celebrates its third anniversary this Saturday.
In the past three years, the 50-bed maternity hospital has conducted 314 free deliveries of female infants, natural or through Caesarian section.
In August 2014, Rakh took another step of opening a 15-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at a cost of Rs.2 million.
The unit offers free treatment and care to all premature female newborns till they are fit to go home.
"In our modest way, we have tackled the issue of female births, taking care of them and now we shall pay attention to their future," Rakh said, explaining the philosophy behind the burns centre.
He plans to use the excess income from the maternity hospital (where male child birth is charged normal rates) and the NICU (ditto for male child) in the burns centre.
"It will be the most modern centre of its kind in India and will cost around Rs.10 million. I have sought a bank loan, but in case there are delays, a private firm has assured us all the required equipment on a hire-purchase basis," Rakh said.
The facility will be inaugurated in April, he said.
Rakh said that even 68 years after independence, many girls become victims of acid attacks, are slashed by blades, and married women are burnt for not meeting dowry demands.
"Anything happens to them and they are disfigured and shattered for life. The tragedy is that a vast majority are unable to afford the expensive treatment. There are government hospitals, but the facilities there are basic and mostly intended to save the victim's life.
"But what about preparing the victim to face society and living a normal life again, as nobody looks at them, socialises or employs them and all avoid them," he said.
The burns centre will have a care department, a sophisticated operation theatre, a burns ICU, plus plastic surgery and other post-operative requirements.
"It will be a one-stop burns centre. The victims who come here will step out with a new look to face life confidently," Rakh assured.
Given the financial constraints, at least a dozen plastic surgeons and burns care specialists from Pune and other parts of Maharashtra have already committed to offer free services to patients.
Quoting current figures, Rakh said a victim with just 40 percent burns would need to spend a minimum of Rs.1.5-2.5 million for complete treatment -- which will be done for free at the Medicare Burns Centre.
He said the hospital will also arrange for the lodging of the victim's relatives so that they are not compelled to live in miserable conditions outside.
When he started the hospital in 2007, after begging for loans from friends and relatives, most people ridiculed his plans.
"If you don't charge for female child's deliveries, how will you repay your Rs.1 crore loan?" aghast lenders demanded.
The son of a daily labourer Adinath (now 68 years old), and domestic worker Sindu (now 61), Rakh who qualified as a doctor in 2001, set up a roaring private practice, simultaneously completed his gynaecology specialisation and went ahead with his pet plans from day one.
Hailing from a very poor family in Solapur, his parents migrated to Pune in search of work. As Rakh was good in academics, he secured scholarships in school and college till his medical degree. "It's now my turn to repay society," Rakh said.
(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)
RBSE 10th Result: Bundi's Nidhi topped the state by scoring 99.67 percent marks in class 10th, Education Minister congratulated her
Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education has released the results of class 10th. In this result, Bundi student Nidhi Jain has secured first place in Rajasthan's result. The student has secured 598 marks
Heavy rain and storm caused havoc in California, 2 including a child died
Heavy rains and storms have caused havoc in California. Thousands of homes lost power due to the storm. Due to the rain and storm, a flood-like situation has been created and at least two people have
A bomb threat on an Air India plane created panic, a flight going from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi
Air India Flight Bomb Threat There was a stir after a bomb threat was made to an Air India plane going from Mumbai to New York. The plane was then diverted to Delhi airport. Officials said that all
Saradha scam: CBI Questions Mukul Roy
Kolkata, Jan 30 (IANS) Trinamool Congress general secretary and former railway minister Mukul Roy Friday appeared before the CBI for questioning in the multi-crore rupee Saradha scam."I am here to
Pawan Singh's patience broke, breaking his silence on his wife's allegations, he said - You want the elections...
Pawan Singh, who made headlines for his easygoing demeanor in "Rise and Fall," has been in the news for the past few months due to his ongoing dispute with his wife, Jyoti Singh. Yesterday, Jyoti
Third Wave in India: Has the third wave of Corona arrived in India? when will it peak
Not only in the world but also India, the new variant of Corona, Omicron, is spreading its feet rapidly. This raises the question of whether the third wave has arrived in the country. Some experts
What will be the effect on India if Russia attacks Ukraine?
Germany's Navy chief Kai Achen Sonber had to resign last week due to a statement made at the Manohar Parrikar Defense Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis in New Delhi on Friday.
The world's political mercury will rise from Bali in Indonesia, the reason is G-20 Summit, and Biden, Xi, and Lavrov present at it
For the next two days in Bali, Indonesia, the political temperature of the world will remain high. The reason for this is the conference of heads of state of G-20 countries to be held there. Because
Rajnath Singh asks militants in Northeast to shun violence
Agartala, Feb 14 (IANS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Saturday said the government would not tolerate terrorist violence in the northeast, calling on militant outfits to shun violence and help
Elon Musk On Twitter: Elon Musk Announces, Now You Will Have To Pay $8 For 'Blue Tick' On Twitter
Twitter\'s new owner Elon Musk has made a big announcement on Twitter about the prices of \'Blue Tick\'. Elon Musk has announced that \'blue ticks\' on Twitter will cost $8 a month. 660.63 in Indian
